Michael Batt represented the maternal grandmother in a case concerning a young child who was living with the mother and her partner, who is not the child’s father.
Proceedings commenced following an anonymous referral to Social Services expressing concerns about bruises all over the child’s body, possibly caused by the mother’s partner, and that the mother might not have taken the child to see a doctor.
Following a Child Protection medical, the injuries, which included bruises, bite and scratch marks to the child’s head, face, body and legs, were assessed to be non-accidental.
When discharged from hospital the child was placed with the maternal grandmother and the Local Authority issued care proceedings. At an initial CMH the grandmother was made a party and an interim Child Arrangements Order was made in her favour, with an interim supervision order to the Local Authority.
The proceedings are ongoing. The matter is listed for a further CMH to obtain additional medical disclosure and to consider the need for further expert evidence, the position of the child’s father, the mother’s partner as a possible intervener and the need for a separate fact finding hearing. Police investigations are also still ongoing.